Seniors tax break approved

HARLINGEN — The City Commission approved two ordinances giving a tax break to individuals who are disabled or 65 and older to strong applause from a packed house Wednesday night.

Commissioners approved a tax ceiling that will freeze property values for seniors and disabled residents. The homestead tax exemption for seniors and disabled residents was increased to $10,000 from $4,000, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

City Manager Carlos Yerena said the tax break will be offset by growth in commercial and residential sectors.

“That will offset the loss in revenue that we will have,” he said.

Because of Harlingen’s status as a retirement community, Yerena said it was important to approve the ordinances.

District 1 City Commissioner Danny Castillo said he was happy the item was on agenda and that it was just something that needed to be done.

District 2 City Commissioner Robert Leftwich echoed that sentiment and added this was the right time to give senior citizens a tax break.

“I think it was the right time to do it. This is the perfect storm. With Bass Pro coming in, I think this was something we could afford to do. And I think when it’s time to return investment into the community. I think we want to start with the people who have contributed to the community the longest and that’s the senior citizens,” he said.

Brenda Heredia, executive director of the Family Crisis Center, said she came to the meeting because she was 64 years old and to support the tax break.

“I’ve been asking about this situation for the 12 years that I’ve been in Harlingen and I’m happy that commissioners Leftwich and Castillo brought it to the floor,” she said.

The commission also discussed a general homestead property tax exemption for Harlingen, but no action was taken. Under the Texas Constitution, that exemption can be no less than $3,000.

However, the commission said the item needs much more study and it would be better to revisit farther down the road.

The commission met in executive session to discuss the lease with the WhiteWings baseball club. The team uses Harlingen Field and has owed upwards of $100,000 in the recent past.

Roel Gutierrez, city finance director, said the WhiteWings have paid $45,000 of that amount. No action to terminate the team’s lease was taken Wednesday night.

The commission also discussed Sun Valley Aviation’s complaint against Valley International Airport through the Federal Aviation Administration in executive session. Mayor Chris Boswell is in Fort Worth with the owners of Sun Valley Aviation and representatives from Valley International Airport to meet with the FAA.

One of the owners of Sun Valley Aviation told the Star he thought the FAA requested the meeting to mediate the complaint.